The popular summer event will once again invite participants to build their own rafts — and facsimiles thereof — to race down the Rio Grande. For its first 17 years, Raft the Rio was organized by the Southwest Environmental Center. Moving forward, it will be run by the local Kiwanis Clubs.

Kevin Bixby, SWEC’s executive director, told the Sun-News he is excited that the Kiwanis Clubs will be taking over.

“We’re very happy that the Kiwanis Clubs have stepped forward and taking on the event, and that Raft the Rio will continue to live on,” Bixby said.

Las Cruces has three Kiwanis Clubs: Sun Country de Las Cruces, Mesilla Valley Kiwanis Club, and the original Kiwanis Club of Las Cruces, which has been in operation since 1926.

“The impetus came from our lieutenant governor, John Northcutt, of the Mesilla Valley Kiwanis Club,” said Jim Pudlewski, secretary of Kiwanis Club of Las Cruces. “He came to all three of the clubs and asked what we thought. We’ve seen so many festivals in Las Cruces cut down in recent years, and of all of them, Raft the Rio seemed to best fit our mission, which is to serve children. The clubs were immediately in on it. Having seen the thrill it gives kids and teens to build and ride on these rafts — this really is a kid thing.”

The 2016 Raft the Rio is expected to take place on or about June 25, depending on water levels in the Rio Grande. Bixby said the event was designed to get the community to interact with the river.

“We wanted people to get down to the river, to enjoy it as a community asset, and to change people’s attitudes, for the better, toward the river,” Bixby said.

Of all of the features that make Raft the Rio fun, Bixby said he hopes it retains one important component.

“I think what made Raft the Rio unique is the creativity that participants applied in building their vessels,” Bixby said. “I hope that continues.

Pudlewski said that it was important to Kiwanis Club members to retain that spirit. Many of the contests, like “Least Likely to Finish,” best themes and most effective use of recycled materials are expected to continue.

“SWEC really pushed the use of recycled materials. It always made for a fun event, and sends a great message. We’d like to continue to emphasize that,” Pudlewski said. “One thing that we’ll be exploring in the coming weeks and months is how to get more kids involved. We’ve talked to New Mexico Game & Fish, and they’re interested in having something for kids. We want to come up with more fun activities that at the finish line for kids.”

In addition to the three Kiwanis Clubs, the Kiwanis family also includes four high school Key Clubs, the Lynn Middle School Builders Club and the Aktion Club of Las Cruces. Pudlewski said Kiwanis will look to utilize those groups to help organize the event, and will enlist the help of other community partners to ensure the event’s success.

More information on the 18th Raft the Rio will be made available as the event nears. Volunteers are asked to contact John Northcutt at 410-925-9126.

Damien Willis can be reached at 575-541-5468 or dawillis@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @damienwillis.

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The Rio Grande may not always look very full, but in 2011 it was overflowing with laughter, smiles and about 140 participants in rafts made from buckets, Styrofoam, wading pools and plywood for the 11th annual Raft the Rio event.(Photo: Shari Vialpando / Sun-News file photo)